Swanton School News

February 2011
Volume 10, Issue 6

868-5346/868-4920
www.swantonschool.org

Meeting the Needs of Our Students

Through Tiered Instruction

Education has moved to a model all students. Tier II is a second dose of

which recognizes that some students
need extra time and support to reach
grade level standards. In order to provide
these supports, schools need a way to
monitor all students against a normed
group. This is often referred to as
“benchmarking.” In Swanton, this
monitoring occurs 3 times per year in
reading, spelling and mathematics. This
is part of our Response to Intervention
model. We have just finished our
January monitoring. The idea is to do
quick “check in” tests that are
standardized and based in research to
make sure that no child is falling behind.
We use the information from these tests
along with other information from our
own local assessments, student writing
and classroom work. During meetings
with classroom teachers,
interventionists, special educators and
content specialists, this information will
be analyzed to plan for instruction, with
the goal of each child getting what they
need to be successful.
Instruction is structured in tiers
referred to as Tier I, Tier II and Tier III.
Tier I is classroom level instruction for
intervention in the area of need and can
occur in the classroom or in the math
and literacy labs. Tier III is for students
who have been identified through the
Special Education process and have a
need for very individualized instruction.
All tiers of instruction are based on
research practices. Tier II interventions
happen during a time when students do
not have another academic class, so that
they don’t miss key instruction time.
Some of the Tier II interventions you
may hear about include: Fundations,
Study Island, Lexia, and Read
Naturally. Some Tier II intervention
also occurs in the classroom to support
small group work or class projects.
Small group instruction is targeted for
4-6 weeks. This process concludes
with post assessment and further
collaboration. While there is no one
time that Tier II level interventions
occur, it really takes the school and the
family working together to ensure
positive outcomes. Thank you for your
continued support as we find ways for
every student to be successful.

Watch for the upcoming Red Barn fundraiser! All funds from
PTO fundraisers go toward field trips, playground
improvements, and other improvements for our school. Order
forms will arrive home on February 16th!
 Calendar Exciting Events at School
February 4th: NO
SCHOOL. Inservice for We hope to see many of you
teachers. at the annual Family Night next
week, on Thursday, February 10th
February 10th – Family from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Our
Night, “Technology Bee”
6:00-7:00 pm
“Technology Bee” will feature ways
that we are incorporating technology
February 14th, School into our curriculum and programs.
Board meeting in Our classroom teachers, librarian,
Central Library, 6 p.m. The annual winter Instrumental interventionists, special educators and
Music concert was amazing – what a students will showcase how we use
February 16th – Red
Barn fundraiser order
wonderful turnout we had! It was PC’s, Macs, netbooks, Smartboards,
forms arrive home such joy to see our students dressed Kindles, iPads, and Wiis. Come see
so nicely and hear them perform so how we use Study Island, Lexia,
February 18th – NAEP beautifully. We are very lucky to Read Naturally, Pivot, GoogleDocs
Testing for 4th grade have the support of the community and other online resources to enhance
February 21st – March
and parents – music is such a valuable our learning!
1st: No School. Winter part of our overall educational
Break. program here in Swanton. Thank you
to Mrs. Messier for planning such a
February 22nd – wonderful celebration of our student
Community Budget
Informational Meeting,
talent!
Village Complex, 7 pm

March 1st: VOTE. All

Who Will Be Blue?
Swanton residents vote So, what would you think if
at the Village Complex you came to school one day and saw
from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. your favorite educator with BLUE
HAIR? On February 18th, Ms.
March 2nd – PTO
Meeting, Central Rouelle, Mrs. Belrose, Mrs. Sullivan,
Cafeteria, Topic: or Mrs. Kneebone will come to school
Literacy, - 6 pm. with their hair dyed royal blue…and it
won’t be the temporary spray on hair
March 14th – School
color – it will be permanent!
Board meeting in
Central Library, 6:00 This is part of a fundraiser for
pm. the Swanton Odyssey of the Mind
team. Odyssey of the Mind is an
March 17th (4:00-8:00 international, educational program that
pm) and March 18th
provides creative problem-solving
(day-No School):
Parent-teacher opportunities for students. Team
conferences members apply their creativity to solve
problems that range from building
March 17th – Spirit Day mechanical devices to presenting their
– Wear Green!
own interpretation of literary classics.
They then bring their solutions to
local, state and world competitions.
The money from the fundraiser goes to
pay for future
membership fees, competition fees
and costs to attend the national
competition if the team wins at the
state level. The Swanton OM team
is made up of 5th and 6th graders who
have been recommended by their
previous and current teachers and
have no behavior referrals.
There are jars for each of the
4 educators in the lobbies of both
buildings. Students and staff put
money into the jar of the person they
would most like to see with blue
hair. The person with the most
money on February 17th will show
their school spirit by having their
hair dyed in time for the
Faculty/Student basketball game on
the 18th. If you would like to make a
donation, checks will also be
accepted (made out to Swanton
Elementary School). Thank you for
your support!